Domestic sheep predation

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A lamb being attacked by a coyote in the most typical method, a bite to the throat

Along with

parasites and disease, predation is a threat to sheep health and consequently to the profitability of sheep raising. Sheep have very little ability to defend themselves, even when compared with other prey species kept as livestock. Even if sheep are not directly bitten or survive an attack, they may die from panic or from injuries sustained.[1]

However, the impact of predation varies dramatically with region. In Africa, Australia, the Americas, and parts of Europe and Asia predators can be a serious problem. In contrast, some nations are virtually devoid of sheep predators. Many islands that are known for extensive sheep husbandry are suitable largely because of their predator-free status.[1]

Worldwide,

feral hogs.[1]

Relation to sheep behavior

Sheep

coyotes. Even coyotes that had not previously been exposed to sheep demonstrated predatory behavior when exposed to them for the first time. Of particular interest was that coyotes with no previous prey-killing experience readily attacked and killed sheep when given the chance. The coyotes were likely to attack sheep that exhibited flight behavior even when these coyotes were not hungry. The same study also determined that dominant coyotes were more likely to attack sheep.[5]

By region

North America

According to the

Wolves, ravens, vultures, and other animals together made up the remaining 7.1% of deaths.[6] As all NASS statistics on sheep only take into account sheep after docking, the American Sheep Industry Association estimates that an additional 50–60,000 lambs were killed (before docking) that were not a part of the count.[7] The number of sheep lost to predators may also be higher when considering that reports are generally only made when there is a reasonable expectation that a producer will be financially reimbursed for the loss.[8]

South America

In South America, the only widespread potential predators of sheep are cougars and jaguars, both of which are known to prey on livestock regularly. South American canids such as the maned wolf and foxes of the genus Lycalopex are also blamed for sheep deaths, but no evidence for a statistically significant amount of predation by most of these species has ever been presented.[4] However, the culpeo is a threat to sheep, and is responsible for 60% of the predator losses in Patagonia.[4]

Africa

Though large, the South African sheep industry is significantly hindered by the innumerable predators present in the country.[9][10] Other African nations that rely on sheep face a similar problem.[9]

Natal revealed that sheep constituted 35% of the resident jackal's diet.[11]

Australia and New Zealand

A$100 million annually.[12] Annual baiting programs are conducted to reduce the number of dingoes and foxes. Uncontrolled domestic dogs also regularly menace and kill sheep. Occasionally wedge-tailed eagles will kill young sheep up to and including hogget size sheep. Prior to its extinction in Tasmania the thylacine, also called the Tasmanian tiger, was also considered a major predator of sheep; however, this was unfounded, as thylacine jaws were not strong enough to kill sheep. Blame for supposed predation on sheep accelerated persecution by farmers and its eventual extinction.[13][14][15][16]

In contrast, New Zealand has no remaining large carnivores since the extinction of the Haast's eagle. The only wild animal known to attack sheep in New Zealand is the rare, unusual kea parrot endemic to the country's South Island.

British Isles

Brown bears are thought to have become extinct in the British Isles in the year 500,[17] while the last wolves were wiped out in 1786.[18] Today the only wild animals remaining as a tangible threat to lambs in the British Isles are the red fox, European badger, and eagles. Domestic dogs are also a common cause of predation of lambs and sheep (they can also sometimes die of shock after any attempted predation or attack). There are many anecdotal reports of badgers predating sheep or lambs, but very little solid evidence of attacks. Badgers will scavenge carcasses of animals that have died of other causes and do have the ability to kill lambs but there is little proof that this is anything other than an occasional occurrence. In an independent report on the impact of badgers it was reported that a Scottish survey of sheep farmers in 2019 found that of farmers who thought they had suffered predation 11% were of the opinion that badgers were responsible for some of their losses, although a majority of these did not actually witness an attack. The report also points out that predation (by many species, not just badgers) is often both misidentified and overestimated which makes it difficult to conclude an accurate figure for badger attacks.[19] Corvids such as the

golden eagles and white-tailed eagles may pose a threat to sheep in the north of Britain, where their ranges remain stable, but studies show that overall levels of predation are likely to be low (in the order of 1-3%),[21][22] although a small number of farmers may occasionally suffer slightly higher losses.[23]

Mainland Europe

In Greece, between April 1989 and June 1991, 21,000 sheep and goats were killed by wolves. In 1998 it was 5,894 sheep and goats.[24]

In southern Bulgaria, golden jackals were recorded to have attacked 1,053 sheep between 1982–87.[24]

Asia

A study on livestock predation taken in Tibet showed that the Himalayan wolf was the most prominent predator, accounting for 60% of the total livestock losses, followed by the snow leopard (38%) and Eurasian lynx (2%). Sheep were the second most targeted victims after goats, amounting to over 30% of losses.[25]

Prevention

Maremma Sheepdog livestock guardian dog
with its flock

Sheep producers have used a wide variety of measures to try to combat predation throughout history. Pre-modern shepherds had only the most basic of tools: their own presence,

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service —to shoot, poison and trap predators that threaten sheep.[27] Wildlife conservation organizations charge that this killing is both indiscriminate and ineffective at protecting sheep.[28][29]

The 1970s saw an ensuing resurgence in the use of livestock guardian dogs and the development of new methods of predator control, many of them non–lethal.

horses, make also help to deter predators, even if such species do not actively guard sheep.[26] In addition to animal guardians, contemporary sheep operations may use non–lethal predator deterrents such as motion–activated lights and noisy alarms. While these devices have been shown to be successful, predators can become habituated to them.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-58017-262-2
    .
  2. ^ "Sheep mauled by wild dogs". Tweed Daily News. 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  3. ^ Lewis, Gareth (2008-01-21). "Sheep worrying leads to warning from farmers". The Daily Echo. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-19-851555-3
    .
  5. doi:10.3733/ca.v055n06p26. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2007-06-11.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Sheep and Goats Death Loss". National Agricultural Statistics Service. May 6, 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)[dead link]
  7. ^ "Sheep and Predator Management -2005". American Sheep Industry Association. May 6, 2005. Archived from the original on December 24, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ISBN 0-8138-2799-X
    .
  9. ^
    ISBN 0-8134-2464-X
    .
  10. ^ Schoenian, Susan. "Sheep Basics". Sheep101.info. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  11. ^ Past and Present – Sign In Page[dead link]
  12. ^ Southern New England Landcare Group, Foxchat No. 71, June–July 1009
  13. ^ "Chisholm, Alec H.". The Australian Encyclopaedia. Vol. 8. Sydney: Halstead Press. 1963. p. 405.
  14. ^ "Australia's Thylacine: What did the Thylacine look like?". Australian Museum. 1999. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2006.
  15. Science Daily
    . 1 September 2011.
  16. ABC Science
    . 1 September 2011.
  17. ^ "Brown Bear". Tooth & Claw. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  18. ^ "A geographical perspective on the decline and extermination of the Irish wolf canis lupus" (PDF). Kieran R. Hickey. Department of Geography, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  19. ^ Mitchell-Jones, A. J. (2020). Badger impacts on biodiversity and agriculture in Scotland: a literature review (PDF). NatureScot Research Report (Report).
  20. ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Hooded Crow: Corvus cornix, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed, N. Stromberg Archived 2010-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ https://www.sasa.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Golden%20eage%20predation%20of%20lambs_benbecula%202003_0.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  22. ^ Is Lamb Survival in the Scottish Uplands Related to the Presence of Breeding White-Tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus Albicilla) as well as other Livestock Predators and Environmental Variables? A pilot study into sea eagle predation on lambs in the Gairloch area: Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 370
  23. ^ Marquiss, M., M. Madders, J. Irvine & David N. Carss 2004: The Impact of White-Tailed Eagles on Sheep Farming on Mull. Final Report. ITE/004/99. Scottish Executive
  24. ^ a b "Conservation Action Plan for the golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Greece" (PDF). WWF Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  25. S2CID 30967502
    .
  26. ^
    ISBN 1-59228-531-7
    .
  27. ^ "Effects of Wildlife Services on Predator Populations". Wildlife Services. October 2001. Archived from the original on 2003-01-14. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  28. ^ "Predator Defense". Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  29. ^ Kim Murray Berger. "Carnivore-Livestock Conflicts: Effects of Subsidized Predator Control and Economic Correlates on the Sheep Industry" (PDF). Wildlife Conservation Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  30. ISBN 0-85236-188-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link
    )

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domestic_sheep_predation&oldid=1217140385"